Electrical control system



ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l CHG.

l l l Jl'l'l l l l l l l B B1 B2 9 B3 Wiimss nwnior July 29, 1941. E 2,250,923

ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 29, 1941. WELD 2,250,923

ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 1941 ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM Y Foster nw id, Newton, Mam, mignor to The Gamewell Company,

Mean, a corporation of Massachusetts Newton Upper Falls,

Application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 311,983

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to electrical control systems and more particularly to systems for transferring electrical connections in a predetermined sequence.

The system is especially suitable for controlling I charging circuits for storage batteries and will be so described herein, although it'is suitable for eifecting transfers in regular sequence between electrical circuits ot'any type. In its particular application for storage battery control the system finds special usefulness in connection with batteries for fire alarm systems.

According to one feature of the invention,.there is provided a system whereby the charging circuit may be connected to the batteries (or more generally, whereby a common circuit may be connected to individual load circuits) in a particular sequence without danger of paralleling or establishing cross connections between the load circuits. In the preferred embodiment this feature of the invention comprises a plurality of stepping relays, each associated with an individual load circuit and having provision for transferring the connections in correct sequence.

The invention also contemplates a control system for automatically eilecting the sequential operation of the stepping relays. The system is responsive to a dual control. For example, in the case of battery charging the transfer is controlled both by time and by battery voltage. Two embodiments of the control system are hereinafter described, these being fundamentally alike and differing primarily in means provided for accumulating idle time.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is 9, diagram of the preferred form of stepping rel-ay system for effecting the sequential circuit transfers; Fig. 2 is a diagram of a complete system as applied to battery charge control; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of a modified form of a complete system for battery charge control.

Fundamental circuit The circuit which constitutes the principle of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1, representing a sequential charge control system for a series of batteries. The batteries are shown at B, B, B and B the first three being for the outlying box circuits and the fourth being the local battery for operating the central station equipment. The terminals of the box circuit batteries are indicated by conventional plus and minus signs, and the terminals of the local battery are indicated by plus and minus signs in circles. The local battery is used for operatare movable.

ing the charge control relays, but to avoid com plicating the diagram the actual connections are omitted and are simply designated by corresponding plus and minus signs in circles wherever necessary.

It is customary to char e the batteries con-.

tinuously with a trickle charge andto apply a high-rate charge at intervals. In the accompanying drawings only the high-rate charge connections are shown.

The system shown in Fig, 1 comprises four stepping relays or charge'control relays, one for each battery, designated C, C, C and C each of which is connected at one end to the negative terminal of the local battery. Each relay is provided with a set of eleven contacts, designated 1 to II for the relay C, llll to Ill for the relay C, 20! to III for the relay C, and 30! to I for the relay C The corresponding contacts are identical but contacts 2, 308 and III are not used although shown in the drawing for the sake of symmetry. Contactsending in 3, 5, I and In Contact l makes on 2 when the corresponding relay is de-energized,.and on 3 when the relay is energized, these contacts being of the make-belore-break type and constituting holding circuits, as will be presently described. Contacts 4 and 5 are energization control contacts of the make and break type. Contact I is adapted to make selectively on 6 or 8, and contact I0 is adapted to make selectively on 9 or II.

Thenegative terminal of battery B is connected to contact 6 by wire I! and the positive terminal is connected to contact 9 by wire ll. The other three batteries are connected in exactly similar fashion to corresponding contacts of their relays. Contact 8 is connected to H" by a wire l8, contact I08 to 201 by a wire it, and contact 208 to 301 by wire 20. Similarly, contact II is connected to H0 by a wire 22, ill to ill! by wire 24, and 2 to 3l0 by a wire 2-6. The negative terminal of the charging unit is connected by a wire 28 to the movable contact I of the first relay and the positive terminal charger is connected by a wire 30 with the movable contact ill of the same relay. It will be'seen that when the first relay C is energized, the terminals of the charger are directly connected to the proper terminals of the first battery B and are disconnected from all other batteries. When the relay C is de-energlzed and the relay C energized, the negative terminal of the charger is connected to the negative terminal of battery B through 28,

contacts I, 8, wire I5 and contacts I01, III, while the positive terminal of the charger is connected with the positive terminal of the battery through 30, I0, II, 22, H and I09. In the same fashion the charger is connected to B by energization of C or to B by energization of C assuming in each case that all preceding relays are deenergized.

Relay C is connected to its movable contact 3 by a wire I5, and the other relays are connected to their corresponding contacts by wires H5, 2I5 and 3I5. The connection 3I5 includes contacts for a purpose to be later described. Contact I is connected to I02 by a wire 32, contact IOI to 202 by wire 34, and contact 20I to 302 by wire 35. Contact 30I is connected to the positive terminal of the local battery by a wire 33. Contact 4 is connected to I03 by wire 40, contact I04 to 203 by wire 42, contact 204 to 303 by a wire 44, and contact 304 to 3 by a wire 46. Contacts 5 and 205 are connected by wires 48 and 50, contact 52 of a transfer switch. Contacts I05 and 305 are connected by wires 54 and 50, respectively, to the lower fixed con-tact 53 of the transfer switch. The transfer switch has a movable contact 58 which is adapted for selective engagement with either of the fixed contacts, and which is itself connected to the positive terminal of the local battery. The connections 48, 50 constitute a stepping circuit which is connected through contacts of the odd-numbered relays (first, third, etc.) of the chain, and the connections 54, 56 constitute a second stepping circuit which is connected through contacts of the even-numbered relays (second, fourth, etc.) of the chain, whereby the relays may be sequentially energized by merely shifting the movable contact 58 of the transfer switch.

As shown in Fig. 1, the relay C is energized and therefore the charger is connected to the battery B. As there shown the relay C is maintained energized through a holding circuit which is traced from the negative terminal of the local battery through the winding of the relay, wire I2, contacts 3, I, wire 32, contacts I02, IOI, wire 34, contacts 202, I, wire 35, contacts 302, I and wire 38 to the positive terminal of the local battery. At this time the movable contact 50 of the switch 52 is on the lower fixed contact and has no effect, since all circuits leading therefrom terminate on the open contacts I05 and 305.

After the battery B has been sufficiently charged, the charging control is transferred to battery B simply by moving the contact 58 to the upper fixed contact of the switch 52. This may be done by any suitable means. such as a timing device. a voltage responsive device, or in any other suitable manner. but for the purpos s of this preliminary description it may be assum d that the switch is simply thrown manually. An energizing circuit for the relay C is then completed from the positive terminal of the local battery throu h the upper fixed contact of the switch 52, wire 48, contacts 5, 4, wires 40 and H2, and relay winding C to the negative terminal of the local battery. The movable contacts of C are then attracted. When I03 makes on II, it establishes a holding circuit for C and also breaks the previously traced circuit for relay C at contacts IOI, I02. The holding circuit for C need not be traced, since it will be remembered that the wire respectively, to the upper fixed 9 34 to which contact IN is connected is energized by a positive battery so long as relays C and C remain de-energized. The energization of C and the consequent de-energization of C, transfers the charger connections to battery B,as previously described. Also, contact I05 closes on I04, but this produces no immediate effect because the movable switch contact 50 is now on the upper fixed contact 52.

After a time the switch contact 50 is thrown to the lower fixed contact so that a circuit is then completed through contacts I04, I05 to the relay C. In exactly the same manner as previously described, a holding circuit is established for (2 through contacts 20 I, 203 while breaking the holding circuit for C at 20I, 202. In a similar manner the control can be finally transferred to relay C by throwing the movable contact of the transfer switch to the upper fixed contact. In any case the onergization of any relay through the transfer switch results in the establishment of a holding circuit for the newly energized relay and the interruption of the holding circuit for the preceding relay.

Finally, the control may be transferred back to the first relay C by throwing the switch to the lower contact whereby an energizing circuit for relay C is established through wire 56, contacts 305, 304, and wire 45. At the same time it is necessary to break the holding circuit for relay C not only to de-energize C but also to permit the previously traced holding circuit to be again established for relay C. This may be done in several ways, but is easily accomplished as shown in Fig. 1 by carrying the connection 3I5 of relay C through a pair of extra contacts 50, SI of the relay C. These latter contacts are caused to open only when the relay C is energized, and hence do not affect any of the operations previously described.

It will be seen that by merely operating the switch 58 alternately up and down the control is shifted stepwise in regular sequence from C through C and C to C and thence back to C again, and consequently the charger is connected to the batteries in the same regular sequence. It will be noted that no more than one relay can be energized except momentarily. Furthermore,

only one battery at a time can be connected to the charger, since the contacts ending in the numerals 6 to II automatically insure that the battery previously undergoing charge must be disconnected from the charger before the next battery is connected thereto, an important feature which prevents paralleling of batteries or discharging of one battery into another. It will be understood that the system is not limitedto a battery charge control but that the batteries may be considered as representative of load circuits" to which electrical connections may be shifted in sequential fashion.

The fundamental circuit described above may be modified to take care of special situations. For example, in a sequential battery charge control it is desirable to have the switch contact 50 under the control of a voltage responsive relay, or a timing device, or both. In a firealarm battery system it is desirable to charge the batteries in sequence and disconnect the charger from any particular battery when the voltage reaches a predetermined value, and it is also desirable to transfer control to the next succeeding battery after a predetermined time, even though the battery under previous charge has not come up to the required voltage. Furthermore, the operations may be carried out in a full cycle of definite length. Thus, in a system involving eleven batteries each battery may be charged a maximum of two hours per day, and a 24-hour timer is used to start a new cycle at the same time each day. Under these circumstances, there will be some time in which the charger is idle and the idle time will necessarily vary in accordance with the time required for charging the individual batteries.

The complete systems hereinafter described involve the fundamental stepping feature of Fig. 1 together with means controlled by voltage and charging time for effecting the results above outlined. These systems are illustrated in two different embodiments; first, one in which the control is transferred from one battery to another immediately as dictated by the voltage control and the idle time is allowed to accumulate at the end of the full cycle and, second, one in which the control is transferred only at the ends of definite intervals, whether or not the charge for any particular battery has terminated by operation of the automatic voltage control. Furthermore, in both systems provision is made for an extended charge of at least one battery, for example, the local battery of a fire alarm system which has to carry a greater load than the others. These modifications will now be described in detail.

System of Fig. 2

The system of Fig. 2 is for controlling the charging of three batteries, namely, two line batteries B and B, and a local battery B and may be applied to a system involving any odd number of batteries. The batteries are under the control of three charging control or stepping relays C, C and C. These relays are identical with the corresponding relays of Fig. 1. A relay is provided for the purpose of controlling the system during the idle period when no batteries are undergoing charge. This relay has contacts 40 l 402 and 403 corresponding to similarly numbered contacts of the other relays, and also a pair of contacts 404, 405 which are closed when the relay is de-energized. The relays are controlled by the transfer switch contacts 52, 53 and 58, identical with the correspondingly numbered contacts of Fig. l, but here shown as part of a sequence control relay 8'. The connections 49, 50 and 54 are as in Fig. 1, whereby the contacts 52 and 53 are connected with alternate stepping relays. There is, however, no connection corresponding to 56 of Fig. 1, from these contacts to the idling relay 0*. As will be presently described, the operation of the sequence control is determined by a voltage responsive device and also by an interval timer, so that when the battery undergoing charge comes to full charge the control is transferred to the next battery and this transfer is efiected at the end of a predetermined interval in any event. The voltage responsive relay is indicatedat TVR, which is of a well-known type having contacts operated when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined value, which value is dependent on the temperature. The interval timer is illustrated at T.

In addition to the interval timer, a full-cycle timer F is provided. This may conveniently operate on a 24-hour cycle so that the charge is transferred to the first battery 3' for a certain time each day. It will be understood that the charging rate is usually set higher than the anticipated requirements of the batteries so that the use of a full-cycle timer is desirable to permit accumulation of idle time and thus to prevent overcharging.

The full-cycle timer F has contacts 62 which are normally open, but are adapted to close momentarily at the end of the cycle. One of the contacts is connected to the negative terminal of the local battery and the other to a cycle con trol relay CC, having contacts 50| to 505 identical with the contacts of the relay C; and also a pair of normally open contacts 506, 501 to control resetting of the interval timer. The relay winding is connected by a wire 64 with the contact 501, which in turn is connected by a wire 99 to the positive terminal of the local battery,

so that the cycle control relay C is energized whenever the contacts 62 close. Contact l of the idling relay 0* connects by a wire 69 with contact 502, which is normally closed on L The normally down movable contact 503 'is connected by a wire 10 with the movable contact 3 of the first relay'C.

The charging lines 28, 30 are connected to the rectifier H and to contacts I and I0 of relay C, as in Fig. 1. The connections involving contacts ending in numerals 6 tell of relays C, C and C are substantially the same as in Fig. 1, except that the positive terminal of battery B is connected direct to contact Ill of C, and contacts 209 and H0 of C are utilized for another purpose to be described later.

The contact '58 by which the stepping of the relays is controlled is, as previously described, operated by the sequence control relay S.

One terminal of the relay winding is connected through a resistor 12 with a negative bus 14, which is connected to the contact 405 of relay 0. The movable contact 404, which is normally closed on 405, is connected by a wire 10 with contact 504 of the cycle control relay CC, the fixed contact 505 being connected to the negative terminal of the local battery. When the relays C and C0 are de-energized, negative battery is supplied to the sequence control relay S through the bus 14. In addition to the contacts 52, 59 and 59, the relay S has a set of makebefore-break contacts l6, l1 and 19, and another set of three contacts 19, and 9|, of which the middle contact 80 is adapted for selective engagement on 19 or 8| depending upon whether the relay is energized or de-energized.

A second sequence control relay S is provided, having one end of its winding connected through a resistor 92 with the negative bus 14, and provided with three sets of contacts 94 and 85, 86 and 81, and 89 and 89, all of which are open when the relay is de-energized. 1

The operations of the sequence control relays are determined by an impulse starting relay R which is controlled by the relay TVR and the timer T, as well as by an impulse terminating relay RF. The relay R has four groups of contacts:

90, 9| and 92 for controlling the operation of R 93, 94 and 95 for controlling energization and deenergization of S and S 96, 91 and 98 for controlling the timer reset mechanism and for establishing a holding circuit for R; and 99 and I00 for de-energizing the TVR winding at the proper times. Relay R has three groups of contacts: H4 and H5 establishing its own holding circuit; I I6 and I I1 operating in conjunction with 99 and I00 of R; and H0, H9 for controlling energization of R.

One terminal of the relay R is connected with the negative terminal of the local battery and the other terminal of the winding is connected by a wire I20 with the normally closed contacts I22 of the interval timer T. From the contacts I22 2. wire I24 leads to the contacts I26 of the relay TVR and from these contacts a wire I28 leads to contact II9 of the relay R Contact H8 is connected to the positive terminal of the local battery so that the relay R is energized whenever the relay R, is de-energized and the series contacts I22 and I26 are closed. Upon energization of R a holding circuit is established by a wire I30 from contact II8 to contact 86 of the relay R. Contact 81 is connected to the positive terminal of the local battery.

From contact 95 of R an impulse conductor I32 leads to the contact 11, which is closed on contact 16 of S when that relay is de-energized, the contact 16 being directly connected to the relay winding. Upon de-energization of 'R therefore the relay S will be energized if negative battery is applied to the bus 14 through closure of contacts 404, 405 and 504, 505. Upon energization of S, contact 18 closes on 16, thus establishing a holding circuit for S since the movable contact 18 is connected to the positive battery terminal.

Contact 93 of relay R is connected by wire I34 with the movable contact 80 of the relay S. Contact 19, upon which 80 closes when the relay S is energized, is connected by a wire I36 with the winding of relay 8', whereby that relay may be energized immediately following the energize.- tion of S, after which a holding circuit is established from the positive terminal of the battery through contacts 85, 84, the latter contact being directly connected with one terminal of the relay winding R The other terminal of the winding is connected through a resistor I38 with the negative bus 14.

De-energization of the relays S, S and R under circumstances to be presently described, is under the control of shortcircuit connections, and it is for this reason that the resistors 12, 82 and I38 are used, in order to prevent shortcircuiting of the battery. The upper terminal of relay S is connected by a wire I40 with contact 86 of the relay S contact 81 being connected by a wire I42 with the conductor I32. It will be seen that if S is being held up by its holding circuit it may be de-energized whenever S is energized and R is de-energized, a shortcircuit path for the relay S being traced from the upper terminal of the relay winding through wire I40, contacts 86, 81, wire I42, wire I32, contacts 95, 94 to the positive terminal of the local battery, thence from such terminal through contacts 18, 16 and the relay winding S back to the starting point.

The shortcircuit de-energizing path of the relay S comprises a wire I44 leading from the upper terminal of relay S to its contact 88, contact 89 being connected by a Wire I46 with contact 8I of relay S. Relay S is thus de-energized when S is down and R is up, as may be seen by tracing a circuit from the upper terminal of S through I44, 88, 88, I46, 8|, 80, I34, 83, 94, I22, the positive battery terminal, contacts 85, 84 and winding S back to the starting point. The contacts 88, 89 are merely to prevent drain on the battery through resistor 82 when R is up and S is down.

Contacts 90, 9i and 82 of the impulse starter relay R are for the control of the impulse terminator relay R Contact 90 is connected to the energized, R

positive battery terminal and the movable contact 8| is connected by a wire I48 with one terminal of the relay winding R.

will be energized ii negative battery is fed to the bus 14. Upon energization of R a holding circuit therefor is established at contact II 4, H5. De-energization of R is controlled by a shortcircuit path, including a wire I50 connected between the upper terminal or R and contact 82 of R. The wire I50 includes a resistor I52 to cause slow release of the relay R. It will be seen that relay R' will be de-energized whenever the shortcircuit path is closed by deenergization oi R.

The-interval timer T comprises a motor I54 supplied by lines I56 through switch contacts I58 which are opened and closed simultaneously with contacts I22. The motor drives an arm I60 adapted to engage a switch opening lever I62. The arm I60 may be reset at any time to its starting position by a latch I64 controlled by a reset winding I86. Whenever the winding I66 is energized, the timing mechanism is reset, and then when the winding I66 is de-energized the timing cycle starts. If the timing mechanism runs without interruption for the period for which it is set, say two hours, contacts I22 and I58 are opened. The purpose of contacts I56 is to stop the motor when the timer operates. The winding I66 connected at one end to negative battery and at the other end through a wire I68 to contact 501 of relay CC, contact 506 being connected to positive battery. A connection I10 leads from wire I68 to contact 88 of R. The resetting winding is therefore energized whenever R is de-energized or CC is energized.

The voltage responsive relay 'I'VR is provided with a winding I12 connected to opposite sides of the charging line 28, 30 through contacts 88, I00 of relay R and H6, H1 of relay R, such contacts being closed only when the relays are energized. The complete connections include a Wire I14 from the line 28 to contact II6, a wire I16 from contact ill to contact 98, a wire I18 from contact I00 to one terminal of the TVR winding, and a wire I from the other terminal of the winding to the other line 30. The purpose of these connections is to de-energize the TVR winding and maintain contacts I26 closed during transfer periods and at other times when the charging lines are not connected to a battery. Since the TVR winding is responsive to voltage, it would be energized by the high charger voltage whenever the charging lines were not connected with a battery, if the above-mentioned connections were not provided.

Operation of system of Fig. 2

In Fig. 2 the charge is being applied to the battery B. Relay C is up and the charging lines are connected to battery B in the same manner as described for Fig. 1. Relays C, 0* and C are down as is also relay CC since the full cycle timer contacts are open. Relays S and S are down and relay R is up. Relay R is up, as it must be under any conditions of actual charge, being held up through its holding circuit since contacts I22 and I26 are closed. It will be noted that contact 58 now engages contact 53 which is connected to the open contact I05 oi. relay C.

If the battery becomes charged within the time allotted by the interval timer T, the winding I12 of relay TVR becomes energized and opens the contacts I26. If the battery is not brought up to full charge within the allotted time, contacts I22 01 the interval timer are opened at the end Whenever R is for the relay R' is broken and the relay is de-' energized. This cuts oil the TVR winding at contacts 69, I66, also it closes contact 64 on 65, thus energizing the impulse conductor I32 and resulting in energization of the sequence control relay 8'. Contact 9| making on- 62 short-circuits the relay R and allows it to de-energize slowly. De-energization of R also closes the resetting circuit for the interval timer at contacts 61, 66, resulting in closure of the contacts I22 if they have been opened.

Energization of S closes contact 58 on 62, thereby completing an energizing circuit for relay C through contacts 4, 6 of relay C. C is energized and locks up through its holding circuit and C becomes de-energized so that-the charger is connected to battery B.

Meanwhile, de-energization of the TVR winding through dropping of the contacts of R' and R has insured that contacts I26 close even if they were previously open. As soon as contacts H8, H9 of R close, relay R becomes re-energized, thereby establishing its own holding circuit at 96, 91 and again energizing R through contacts 96, 9|. The timing interval starts when contact 61 opens from 68. Relay S now becomes energized t rough a circuit leading from positive battery th ough contacts 94, 93, wire I14, contacts 66, I9, wire I36 and relay S to the negative bus I4, after which the holding circuit for S is closed at 84, 85. Re-energization of R and R again closes the circuit for TVR winding I12.

The charge of battery B now proceeds under the control of relay C. Under these conditions relays C, C, C and CC are down while all of the relays S, S, R and R. are up.

After the charge on battery B has run sufficiently to open either the contacts I22 or I26, the charge is transferred to the local battery 3.

The transfer is initiated by de-energization of relay R', followed by de-energization of R. Relay S is de-energized through its short circuit path, thereby causing energization of relay C" through contacts 56, 53 and I65, I64. The timer is reset and then R picks up again, followed by energizetion of R. Finally, relay S drops because of the shortcircuit path established by de-energization of S and energization of R. Relay C" remains energized by its holding circuit so that the charging lines are connected to battery 13 As many batteries may be provided as desired and the charge will shift under the stepwise control from battery to battery. It will be observed that during charge the relays R and R are up, and during transfer they are down. Relays S and S are alternately up and down during charges on successive batteries.

The charge on battery 28 proceeds as in the case of the preceding batteries. In this connec tion wherein the battery 13 is the local battery of a fire alarm system, the control differs from that of the other batteries in that the charge on the local battery cannot be cut oil by any operation of the interval timer T. The reason for this is that the local battery provides current for all the station equipment and therefore it usually requires a more extended charge. This result is accomplished through contacts 269 and 2I6, which are connected to short-circuit the timer contacts I22 when the relay C is energized.

Contact! is connected by a wire III with the wire I26, and the contact 2I6 is connected by a wire I" with the wire- I24. Operation of the interval timer will therefore have no'eil'ect on the charge of battery B". This feature may be applied to any one of the batteries, but obviously it is preferable to place it only on the last battery of the system, so that the additional charge will encroach only on the time which otherwise would be under the control of the idling relay C.

After the local battery has been brought up to charge and the TVR contacts I26 open, relays R and R. are de-energized in exactly the same manner as previously described. Th sequence control relay 8' is energized and a circuit for relay 0* is established through contacts 56, 62 and 266, 264, after which the holding circuit for C is established and relay C becomes de-energized. thereby disconnecting all batteries from the charger. Furthermore, contacts 464, 465 of C are opened, thereby disconnecting negative battery from the negative bus 14. Consequently, relay S drops and S and R cannot be energized during attraction of the idling relayl The im-.

pulse starting. relay R is energized as soon as re- .lay R drops and is thereafter held up by its holding circuit. It will be noted that the winding I12 of the 'I'VR relay is de-energized and remains de-energized because contacts H6, III of R remain open. During the momentary de-energization of R the timer T is reset. The system then idles until such time as the full cycle timer F closes its contacts. It is possible that the interval timer T may operate during the idle period. In that event, relay R simply drops, but the timer is immediately reset by the closure of contacts 91, 96 and the relay R' is immediately reenergized through contacts H6, H6 of the still de-energized relay R The momentary de-energization of R under such circumstances ha no effect on any other part of the system.

At the end of the full cycle, contacts 62 of the timer F close and relay CC is energized through a circuit traced from the negative battery terminal through contact 62, winding CC, wire 64 and wire 66 to the positive battery terminal. Contact 563 makes on WI and breaks the holding circuit for relay C at 662. The

circuit is now traced to relay C from positive battery through 66, WI, 563 and I6. Energizetion of relay C again connects the charger to the first battery B.

The contacts 62 close only momentarily and as soon as they are opened, the relay CC is deenergized. The holding circuit for relay C may now be traced from the positive battery terminal and wire 66 back through the contacts of the several relays CC, C, etc. During the energization of CC the negative bus connection is It will be noted that the required charging time for the local battery I may be sufliciently long to use up the remainder of the cycle. In such a case the full-cycle timer contacts 62 would close before the TVR contacts would open and the control would be transferred immediately to the first relay C without energizing the idling relay C at all. This may be seen from the fact that when CC is energized by closure of the full-cycle timer contacts, contact 503 closes on 505, thereby breaking the holding circuit for C and immediately energizing relay C through the conductor iii. The interval timer T isilreset by the closure of contacts 506, 501. Relays S and S which were down and relays R and R which were up during the charge on B are to remain in the same condition for the charge on the first battery B and hence no disturbing operation occurs. The only action that occurs during transfer is the de-energization of the negative bus by opening of contacts 504, 505, and this results in momentary de-energlzation of R as is necessary to disconnect TVR winding H2 from the charging lines at contacts H6, H2. As soon as contacts 62 open after their momentary closure, the negative bus is again energized, thus picking up relay R and placing the system under proper control.

The normal operations of the several relays are summarized by the following schedule (omitting the condition of direct transfer from B to B without idling) Transfer to B ...do

The sequence of operations having been described, an explanation of the general function and purpose of the above mentioned relays may now be given. Relay Rf remains continuously energized except during transfer periods when it is momentarily de-energized by the opening of contacts I22 or I26. The momentary deenergization serves to give the impulse for controlling the operation of S. During this impulse, S is energized through the impulse conductor I32 if it was previously de-energized, or it is de-energized through its shortcircuit path if it was previously energized; this relay is thus used to shift control of the stepping relays through contact 58. The relay R remains energized during all periods of active charge but is slowly deenergized following de-energization of R during a transfer period. The momentary de-energization of this relay in a transfer period terminates the impulse which was started by relay R and is the means by which relay R is reenergized. The relay S2 operates in a fashion similar to S, being alternately up and down during active charging periods, and its function is to permit establishment of the shortcircuit path for the relay S at the proper times. Likewise relay S has contacts which determine establishment of the, shortcircuit path for S In general, the relays S and S are both in energized and de-energized condition simultaneously, except during transfer periods.

As in the case of the system of Fig. 1, this system utilizes an even number of charge control relays. An odd number of batteries is, however, used therewith since one of the relays must be employed to take care of the idling condition.

If the system should be rendered inoperative by the blowing of a fuse in the local battery circuit or by any other cause through which the relays are disconnected from their source of power, the system will not start up immediately upon repair of the fault, because the relays are all tie-energized and there is no way to close an energizing circuit for any of them, except by manually setting the contacts. It will, however, start automatically at the beginning of a new cycle, as determined by the closure of the contacts 62 of the timer F. A circuit is then established through line 10 to the first charge control relay C, after which all other relays are caused to operate in the proper sequence. Although the system mightbe started manually, it is preferable to wait for the automatic start at the beginning of a new cycle, because correct sequentlal operation is then assured.

System of Fig. 3

The system of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 2, except that the transfer from one battery to the next occurs only at the end of the timing interval. The system is illustrated as having three batteries B, B and B of which the last is the local battery. These batteries are under the control of four stepping relays C, C, C and C To provide for greater charging on the local battery than on the other batteries, the battery B is placedunder the control of relays C and C Thus the local battery may be subjected to twice the charging time of any of the other batteries.

The stepping of the relays is under the control of two sequence control relays U and U corresponding to S and S a charger cut-off relay V and an impulse controlling relay V The charging times are under the control of an interval timer T and. a full-cycle timer T The timer T has three normally open contacts 214, 216 and H8, all adapted to close momentarily at the end of the timing interval, contact 2M being connected to the positive terminal of the local battery. The full-cycle timer T has a pair 'of normally closed contacts 220, Ml adapted to close momentarily to determine the start of a new full cycle, and a pair of normally open contacts 222, 223 adapted to close at the same time. In the system shown, involving four stepping relays, the interval timer may be set to close its contacts every six hours and the timer T to operate its contacts every twentyfour hours.

The contacts of the stepping relays are connected substantially as in Fig, 1, except in the folowing particulars: contact 3 of the first relay is connected by a wire 224 with contact 220 of the full-cycle timer T Contacts 306 and 309 are connected in parallel with contacts 206 and 209, respectively, by wires 226 and 228, in order that the charge may be applied to the local battery B whenever C or C is energized. Connection 44 is not led to contact 303 directly, but the connection is carried through a wire 230, contacts 23l, 232 of relay U, and a wire 233 to contact 303. The purpose of contacts 23l, 232 is to break the holding circuit for C when transfer back to C is to be effected, and these contacts therefore take the place of contacts 60, SI of Fig. 1.

Relay U has in addition to the contacts 23!, 232 three sets of contacts identical with those of Fig. 2, and such contacts are similarly numbered. The sequence control contacts 52, 53 and 58 are connected with the stepping relays through wires 48, 50 and 54 exactly battery. The other terminal of the relay is connected by a wire 242 with contact 2I6 of the interval timer T and by a wire 243 with its own contact 234. Contact 225 is connected by a wire 244 with the TVR contacts I28, through which the circuit may be completed to the positive terminal of the local battery. Relay V is thus energized when the timer contacts close and is maintained energized by a holding circuit through contacts I28. Contacts 236 and 231 are in series with the TVR winding I12 as will be presently described. Contacts 238 and 239 are placed in series with the positive charging line 30, and contacts 240 and 24I are placed in series with the negative charging line 28, so that when these contacts are open, the charger is disconnected from the battery.

tion of V opens the charging lines at 228, 228 and 240, I, also it disconnects the TVR winding pens until the interval timer T closes its con- .The relay V is connected at one terminal to negative battery and at the other terminal to timer contact 2I8 by a wire 246. This relay has a set of contacts 248, 249 and 250 and another set of contacts 25I and 252. Contact 248 is connected to contact 11 by a wire 254, corresponding to the impulse conductor I32 of Fig. 2. Contact 249 is connected to positive battery and contact 250 is connected by a wire 256 with con tact 80 of U.

The circuit of the TVR winding is traced from the positive charging line through a wire 258, the winding I12, a wire 260, contacts 231, 236 of V, a wire 262, contacts 25I, 252 of V and a wire 264 to contact 2 which connects with the negative charging line 28. Whenever V is de-energized or W is energized, the TVR winding is disconnected from the charging lines,

Relay U is connected through a resistor 12, and relay U through a resistor 82, with a wire 265 running to contact .223 of timer T Contact 222 is connected to the negative terminal of the local battery. As in the case of Fig. 2, de-energization of U and U is accomplished by shortcircuit connections. For U the shortcircuit path includes connections I44 and I46 connected in exactly the same manner as for the relays S and S of Fig. 2. The energizing connection I36 for U is likewise the same as the similarly numbered connection for S of Fig. 2.

The full-cycle timer contact 22I is connected by a wire 266 with the connection 54 which leads from contact 53 of relay U to contact I05 oi. relay C.

Operation of system of Fig. 3

As shown in Fig. 3, the charge is being applied to the first battery B, relay C is up and the charging lines are connected to battery B in the same manner as described for Fig. 1. Relays C, C and C are down, relay V is up as it must be for any active charge, V is down, and the sequence control relays U and U are down.

When the battery becomes fully charged, contacts I26 of the TVR relay open, and this breaks the holding circuit for relay V. De-energizatacts 214, M6 and 2 I8, then relays V and W are energized. Relay V is locked up by its holding circuit. Energization of V breaks the TVR winding circuit at 25I, 252, also it closes contact 248 or 248, thereby energizing relay U through the impulse conductor 254, after which the holding circuit for U' is established at contacts 18, 18. As soon as U is energized, stepping relay C is energized through contacts 58, 52 and 5, 4 as previously described. When the contacts of timer '1" open, relay V drops and closes an energizing circuit for relay U through contacts 249, 250, wire 256 and contacts 80, 19, following which the holding circuit for U is established at 85, 84. Furthermore, the circuit of the TVR winding I12 is completed through 25I, 252. The charge then proceeds on battery B. timer T again operates, relays U and U are maintained energized.

It will be noted that even if the TVR relay does not operate'within the allotted time, the interval timer T on closing its contacts will en-' ergize relay V and accomplish the transfer in exactly the same fashion. No operation of V is necessary to eifect a transfer, the purpose of this relay being to cut oif the charge if the battery reaches the proper voltage before the end of the timing interval.

At the proper time for transfer from B to B the contacts of the timer T again close and V is again energized. Upon closure of contact 249 on 248 a shortcircuit path for U is established from the upper end of the winding through I40, 86,. 81, I42, 254, 248, 249, positive battery terminal, contacts 18, Hand back through the winding to the starting point. U being thus deenergized drops its contacts and closes an energizing circuit for C through contacts 58, 53 and I05, I04. As soon as V drops by opening of the timer contacts, a shortcircuit path for U is established from the upper end of the winding through I44, 88, 89, I46, ill, 80, 256, 250, 249, positive battery terminal, 85, 84 and the relay winding back to the starting point. The charge on battery B now proceeds with relay C energized. U and U are now down.

At the end of the interval for control by C control is transferred to C upon closure of the contacts of T and the second charge on the battery l3 proceeds with relay C attracted. During this interval relays U and U are up.

At the end of the full cycle the contacts of T close momentarily, and contacts 220, Hi of '1' close and contacts 222, 223 open. Since negative battery is removed from relays U and U by the opening of the last named contacts, these relays are de-energized. Relays V and V are energized through the contacts of T as at the end of any timing interval. It will be noted that relay U would in any event be de-energized through its shortcircuit path upon energization of V exactly as at the end of any timing interval. Contacts 222, 223 are therefore superfluous for normal operation of the system, but they are used to take care of an abnormal condition, as will hereinafter be described. When relay U is de-energized, the holding circuit for stepping relay C is broken at contacts 23I, 232. gizing circuit for the first stepping relay C is established from the positive battery terminal Until the An enerthe relays U,

.the final battery is subjected to through contacts 58, 53, wire 54, wire 288, closed contacts 229, 22! of the time T and wire 224 through the windl; g of relay C to the negative battery terminal. Upon attraction of the contacts of relay C, its holding circuit is again established and the charging connections are transferred to the first battery B. As soon as the contacts of T open, relay V is de-energized, thus closing contacts 2%, 252 and allowing the winding 572 of the TVR relay to be connected across the charging lines. At some time therealter the timer T allows its contacts to be restored to normal condition, thereby again applying negative battery to relays U and U in readiness for the next operation of the interval timer T. The time during which the contacts of the full-cycle timer T are actuated is longer than the time of closure of the contacts of the interval timer T, in order to make sure that negative battery cannot be applied to the relay U when relay V is energized, because in that event an energizing circuit for U would be established through contacts M8, 24a of V and the sequence control would be destroyed. After timer I releases its contacts the system is in the condition shown in Fig. 3 and succeeding charging cycles proceed as previously described.

As stated above, the contacts 222, 223 of timer T are superfluous for normal operation. The upper ends of resistors 12 rectly connected to the negative battery terminal and so long as the system remained in proper condition it would operate in the correct sequence. Such a system, however, would not necessarily be self-starting. Assuming that the power supply should be lost, as by the blowing of a fuse, then at the time or" repairing the fault U V and V would start their sequential operations, but the stepping relays would be de-energized until the beginning of the next full cycle. Whether or not the cycle would start correctly would depend on the sequence in which relays U and U had been previously operated. It is necessary that at the start of the full-cycle the relay U should be de-energized and should remain tie-energized throughout the first charging interval. The contacts 222, 2223 make sure that both relays U and U are de-enelgiZed and also that these relays cannot be again energized by the operation of any other elements of the system until the timer T dictates the transfer to the next stepping relay. The timer T therefore, not only determines the start of the full cycle, but insures that the relays shall be started in proper sequence regardless turbances which might have occurred ceding cycle.

As in the system previously described, the stepping relays are of an even number. Any number of relays may be employed, the upper contact 52 of the transfer switch being connected to contacts 5, 205, etc., of the first, third, etc., relays, and the lower contact being connected to contacts I05, etc., of alternate relays, no connection, however, being made to the final relay of the series. In the particular system shown in Fig. 3, an odd number of batteries is provided, but the battery connections are even in number because a double charging interval. One or more of the relays may be connected for idling, if an odd number of battery connections are employed. For example, the final relay C could function as an idling relay merely by omitting the connections 226 and 228.

in the preand 82 might be diof any dis- Conclusion The invention above described comprises two main features: first, the stepping system illustrated by Fig. l; and, second, the automatic sequence control exemplified by the modifications of Figs. 2 and 3.

The stepping system shown in fundamental form in l utilizes the series connections of relay contacts to transfer control successively from one relay to another. Although this system is illustrated as applied to battery charging, it will be understood that it can be used for any purpose in which electrical connections are established sequentially from one circuit to different load circuits. volve means whereby the transfer from one load circuit to another is underthe joint control of a timing mechanism and-means responsive to the a co edition of the load circuits themselves. These systems are particularly suitable for battery charging and serve to maintain the batteries in proper condition with a minimum of supervision. Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A sequential control system comprising a plurality of stepping relays, each having a group of holding circuit contacts and a group of energization control contacts, a transfer switch having contacts connected to alternate groups of energization control contacts, the energization control contacts of each relay being connected to the next succeeding relay, and holding circuit connections to the holding circuit contacts to establish a holding circuit for a relay energized by the energization control contacts and to break the previously established holding circuit for the preceding relay.

2. A sequential electrical transfer system comprising a plurality of relays, a plurality of holding circuit contacts for each relay, means for energizing the first relay, energizing circuit contacts for the several relays each connected to the succeeding relay, a transfer switch having contacts connected with energizing circuit contacts of alternate relays, and holding circuit connections through the holding ircuit contacts of the relays to maintain any relay, when once energized, in energized condition, said holding circuit contacts having provision, upon energization of the next succeeding relay for breaking the holding circuit for the previously energized relay and for establishing the holding circuit for the newly energized relay.

3. A sequential transfer system comprising a plurality of relays, holding circuit contacts for each relay including a movable contact connected with its corresponding 'relay and a pair of normally closed fixed contacts adapted to be separated when the movable contact closes on one of the fixed contacts, series connections of said fixed contacts of the several relays to form a holding circuit, and a source of potential connected with one of the fixed contacts of the final relay and with all of said relay windings.

4. An electrical control system comprising a relay, an impulse device, a holding circuit for the relay, means controlled by the impulse device to energize the relay if de-energized and to short circuit the relay if energized, and a second relay controlled by the first relay having contacts to control the short circuit path for the first relay.

5. An electrical control system comprising two sequence control relays each having contacts to establish individual holding circuits therefor, a shortcircuit de-energizing path for each relay in- The systems of Figs. 2 and 3 in- I eluding contacts of the other relay, and impulse means to effect de-energization of said relays following a period of simultaneous energization thereof and to effect energization of said relays following a period of simultaneous de-energization thereof.

6. An electrical control system comprising two sequence control relays each having contacts to establish individual holding circuits therefor, a shortcircuit de-energizing path for each relay in.- cluding contacts of the other relay, impulse starting means to change one of the sequence control relays from energized to de-energized condition or vice versa, and impulse terminating means to effect a subsequent similar change in the condition of the other relay.

7. An electrical transfer system comprising a common circuit and a plurality of load circuits, means for transferring connections sequentially from one load circuit to another, means responsive to load circuit conditions for operating the transfer means to effect transfer to the next ciredit, an interval timer to operate the transfer means at the end of a predetermined time interval notwithstandin failure of said responsive means to operate, a full cycle timer, and idling means to accumulate idle time at the end of a full cycle.

8. An electrical transfer system comprising a common circuit and a plurality of load circuits, means including a set of stepping relays for transferring connections from the common circuit to the load circuits in sequence, means responsive to load circuit conditions for disconnecting a load circuit from the common circuit and for operating the stepping relays to transfer the connection of the common circuit to the next load circuit, an interval timer to effect such transfer notwithstanding failure of said responsive means to operate within a predetermined time, a full-cycle timer, and an idling relay con stituting one of the set of stepping relays to accumulate idle time at the end of the full cycle.

9. A sequential transfer system comprising a plurality of relays, holding circuit contacts for the several relays, holding circuit connections for maintaining any relay, when once energized, in energized condition, means including the energized relay for energizing the relay next succeeding, means operated by energization of said succeeding relay for establishing a holding circuit for itself and for breaking the holding circuit of the previously energized relay, a full-cycle timer, and means operated under control of the full-cycle timer to breaka previously established holding circuit and to energize the first of the relays.

10. A sequential control system comprising a plurality of stepping relays, a stepping circuit for odd-numbered relays, a stepping circuit for evennumbered relays, a transfer switch for alternately energizing the stepping circuits, and contacts on each relay for connetcing one of said stepping circuits with the relay next succeeding an energized relay upon shifting of the transfer switch.

11. A sequential control system comprising a plurality of stepping relays each having energization control contacts connected with the next succeeding relay, a stepping circuit connected with the energizing control contacts of odd-numbered relays, a stepping circuit connected with the energizing control contacts of even-numbered relays, and a transfer switch connectable to one or the other of the stepping circuits to cause energization of the relays successively by alternately connecting the switch to said stepping circuits.

12. A sequential control system comprisin a plurality of stepping relays, a stepping circuit for odd-numbered relays, astepping circuit for evennumbered relays, a transfer. switch for alternately energizing the stepping circuits, contacts on each relay for connecting one of said stepping circuits with the relay next succeeding an energized relay upon shifting of the transfer switch, holding circuit contacts for each relay, and holding circuit connections including said contacts and operating to establish a holding circuit for a newly energized relay and to break the holding circuit of the previously energized relay.

13. An electrical control system comprising two sequence control relays each having holding circuit contacts, a short circuit de-energizing path for each relay including contacts of the other relay, an impulse starting device having a pair of contacts connected with one of the sequence control relays to energize said relay if de-energized and to close the short-circuit de-energizing path therefor if energized, and means acting through energization or de-energization of said relay to energize or ale-energize, respectively, the other sequence control relay.

14. An electrical control system comprising a first sequence control relay, a second sequence control relay, an energizing circuit for the second relay including contacts of the first relay, 9. shortcircuit de-energizing path for each relay including contacts of the other relay, an impulse starting device having a pair of contacts connected with the first relay to energize said relay if deenergized and to close the short-circuit de-energizing path if energized, and means acting after energization of the first relay for energizing the second and acting after de-energization of the first relay for closing the short-circuit de-energizing path for the second relay.

FOSTER E. WELD. 

